Dish-shaped object with a dishcloth for placement in a dishwasher

ABSTRACT

An object substantially extending in one plane, but possibly being cup or dish-shaped, which object can be placed in a dishwasher. The object includes a circumferential edge including one or more openings and a holding mechanism arranged for holding textile material. Once the textile material is fixed therein, it is spread over the surface of the object. The wash water circulates in the dishwasher and subsequently the relatively cleaner rinse water can wash one flat side of the material to be cleaned via the openings in the object, while the water directly reaches the other flat side. Via the openings, moisture can evaporate from the damp material, so that the material can dry more easily.

The present invention relates to a flat object substantially extendingin one plane, but generally being curved or cup or dish-shaped inpractice, which is suitable for being placed in a dishwasher.

The invention further relates to a system comprising such an object tobe placed in a dishwasher and to a dishcloth or a kitchen textileproduct stretched on the object.

A universal device for stretching dishcloths and kitchen textileproducts and placing the same more or less upright in a dishwasher isdescribed in NL-1035197.

An object having the distinctive features to be defined hereinafter isnot known therefrom. Nor are the various alternative ways of holding thedishcloths enumerated below known therefrom.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an object which isoptimally geared to the task that is set and a corresponding systemcomprising both the object and, in general, cloth material.

In order to accomplish that objective, the object according to theinvention is characterised in that the object comprises acircumferential edge provided with one or more openings and with holdingmeans arranged for holding textile material.

The advantage of the object according to the invention is that theholding means which are present in the circumferential edge or arepermanently fixed thereto are arranged at positions such that when thetextile material is secured therein, said material is automaticallyspread over the surface area of the object. The wash water circulatingin the dishwasher and subsequently the relatively cleaner rinse watercan reach the one spread-out side of the material to be cleaned via theopenings in the object and wash said side, whilst the opposite side isdirectly washed by said water. Via the openings, moisture can evaporatefrom at least said one side of the wet textile material, so that thematerial will dry. The object with the textile material held thereon ispreferably placed upright in a dish rack or between the kitchenware thatis normally present in a dishwasher.

The invention is characterised in that the system comprises an object asreferred to above and one or more textile products capable of beingwashed in a dishwasher, which preferably comprise between 50 and 60%polyester, between 20 and 30% polyamide and between 15 and 25% urethane,in particular in a proportion of 55:25:20.

This composition of the synthetic textile material has the advantagethat the material on the one hand readily absorbs moisture and dirt,whilst on the other hand the dirt will easily come loose from thematerial when said material is being washed, so that the material alsohas optimum washing properties and will come out of the dishwasherproperly cleaned, in particular microbiologically. The composition ofthe textile material furthermore makes the material excellently suitablefor being washed in a dishwasher, because said material is hardlyaffected, if at all, by the relatively aggressive detergents.Furthermore, the extent of wear during the washing process in thedishwasher is minimal, so that a long life is ensured.

Further variants, in particular as regards the design and technicalconstruction of the object according to the invention, as well as theconcomitant advantages thereof, will be set forth in the descriptionbelow.

The object and the system according to the present invention will now beexplained in more detail with reference to the figures below, in whichlike parts are indicated by the same numerals. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a currently preferred (for commercial reasons) firstembodiment of the object, which is provided with a textile material;

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the object according to theinvention, which is configured as a grate or wire model;

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the object according to theinvention, which is pivotable;

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the object according to theinvention, which comprises two, possibly pivotable, rings to be clampedtogether; and

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the object according to theinvention, which is configured as a kind of rack having pointed ends.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 each show possible forms and embodiments of anobject 1 extending substantially in one plane, which can be placed in agenerally upright position in a dishwasher (not shown). The object,which preferably has the standardised size and shape of a dinner platein a particular country, is adapted for holding a textile material2—illustrated in dotted lines—thereon, in order for said material to bewashed clean while going through wash and rinse cycles in thedishwasher. Said washing will be most effective, and no dirt will remainbehind on the textile, if the textile material 2 being held by theobject 1 is positioned upright in the dishwasher. In practice a (usuallydamp) piece of textile used in a living space or a kitchen, such as adust cloth, a dishcloth or a floor cloth, need not be taken separatelyto a laundry basket or directly to a washing machine in that case, sothat less handling is involved. The object 1 of FIG. 1 has acircumferential edge 3 which is at least partially cup of dish-shapedand which may be entirely made of plastic material. As a result, theobject can simply take up a position already reserved and suitable forplates in the dishwasher, without taking up any additional space. Theobject 1 is provided with one or more openings 4 formed at least in thecircumferential edge 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, holding means 5 arepresent in a number of said openings 4, which holding means are arrangedfor holding the textile material 2 that can be folded over the edge 3.Apart from saving weight and plastic material, the other openings 4,which may be designed to have a creative, attractive shape, if desired,further function to admit rinse water to the flat side facing thecircumferential edge 3 of the textile material 2 while going through thedishwashing cycle and subsequently discharge said water. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, the holding means 5 are fully integrated in thecircumferential edge 3 and form a permanent part of the object 1. Theshape thus obtained closely conforms to that of a plate, and the object1 does not have any inconvenient projections or loose parts in thatcase. The holding means 5 of FIG. 1 have loose elastically resilientlips 6, for example of plastic material injection-moulded along with theholding means, which move out in a direction perpendicular to the planeof the object 1 when textile material 2 is manually pressedtherebetween, and which spring back when the pressure is released. Atrest, the lips 6 tend to close, thereby generating a holding force whichholds the material 2, until the material 2, washed clean after thewashing cycle, is retracted therefrom. In the case of FIG. 1, the lips6, and in general the holding means 5, are usually arranged atdiametrically opposite positions on the object 1, being fixed to or onthe circumferential edge. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the object 1 hasa central opening 7 located within the circumferential edge 3, savingplastic material, for the supply and discharge of water.

By way of possible alternative, the holding means 5 are configured asclamping means (not explicitly shown in figures) which may or may not bespring-loaded, for example more or less in radial direction, whichclamping means are suitable for fixing and holding material in a simplemanner therewith and releasing it therefrom.

In the embodiment in which the object 1 is configured as a plate, theobject 1 has an upright, usually thickened edge at the location of thetransition area to the central opening 7, which edge, like the edge of acommon plate, is stably supported against the supports present in adishwasher's dish rack.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the object 1 in the form of a lattice or awire netting made of metal wire or plastic material, which is providedwith openings 9 formed between bars or wires 8. Metal has a greaterthermal capacity than plastic, so that the textile material being heldon the metal object will dry more rapidly. The holding means 5 are inthis case formed by the wires 8 which bound the wires 8 of a same grateopening 9, which bend aside slightly when textile material is pressedinto the opening. A number of said openings 9 might be formed with theholding means 5 in the form of the lips 6. By way of alternative (notshown), it would be possible to use two such nettings to be clampinglypressed together with the textile material 2 therebetween.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the object 1 is made up of two,generally more, if desired, legs 11 which can pivot out about a commonpivot point 10. In this case the holding means 5 are fixed to the endsof the legs 11 in a partially virtual descriptive circumferential edge 3(illustrated in dotted lines), as it were.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the object in the form of two, possiblymutually pivotable, rings 12 to be clampingly pressed together, betweenwhich the textile material 2 (not shown) is held at the circumferencethereof.

FIG. 5 shows the object 1 as a wire model, which in this embodiment hasa circumferential edge 3 provided with one or more, possiblyspring-loaded projecting points 13, which form the holding means 5 forfolding the textile material there around and thus holding saidmaterial. The points 13 may be at least partially pivotable and/orspring-loaded, if desired, so as to achieve an improved holding action.

In another alternative embodiment of the holding means 5, said holdingmeans may be configured with magnetic means (not shown) at leastpartially integrated in the object 1, with the edge of the textilematerial 2 or one or more of the corner points thereof being heldbetween the magnets or between the magnets on the one hand and a metalnetting on the other hand.

In another alternative embodiment, the combination of the object 1 andthe textile material 2, which is referred to as system herein and whichis suitable for sale, may comprise holding means 5 in the form ofwell-known press-studs. Male or female press-studs are provided on theobject 1, with corresponding press-studs being provided along thecircumference and/or at the corner points of the textile material.

An optimum composition of the textile material 2 that can be washed in adishwasher comprises between 50 and 60% polyester, between 20 and 30%polyamide and between 15 and 25% urethane. The most optimum composition,which can be used and washed several times, contains the aforesaidplastics in a proportion of 55:25:20.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. An object substantially extending in one plane, orbeing cup or dish-shaped, which object can be placed in a dishwasher,wherein the object comprises: a circumferential edge including one ormore openings; and holding means arranged for holding textile material.17. An object according to claim 16, wherein the holding means isintegrated in the circumferential edge, or in openings formed therein.18. An object according to claim 16, wherein the holding means isfixedly provided in or on the circumferential edge, or are arranged atdiametrically opposite positions on the object.
 19. An object accordingto claim 16, wherein the holding means includes clamping means that mayor may not be spring-loaded, or in a radial direction.
 20. An objectaccording to claim 16, wherein the object further comprises an openingcentrally disposed within the circumferential edge.
 21. An objectaccording to claim 16, wherein the circumferential edge includes withone or more openings.
 22. An object according to claim 16, wherein theobject further comprises two or more legs that can pivot out about apivot point, forming a partially virtual circumferential edge, whoseholding means are fixed to the projecting leg portions.
 23. An objectaccording to claim 16, wherein the object consists of wires or bars. 24.An object according to claim 23, wherein the object includes two wire orbar models to be clampingly pressed together, which are configured tohold the textile material therebetween.
 25. An object according to claim23, wherein the object includes the circumferential edge including oneor more projecting points, or spring-loaded projecting points, whichform the holding means for holding the textile material.
 26. An objectaccording to claim 25, wherein the points are pivotable and/orspring-loaded.
 27. An object according to claim 16, wherein the holdingmeans is at least partially magnetic.
 28. A system comprising: an objectaccording to claim 16; and one or more textile products capable of beingwashed in a dishwasher.
 29. A system according to claim 28, wherein theobject comprises holding means and the textile material comprisescorresponding holding means provided along the circumference and/or nearthe corner points thereof, or male and female holding means,respectively, or press-studs.
 30. A system according to claim 27,wherein the textile material capable of being washed in a dishwashercomprises between 50 and 60% polyester, between 20 and 30% polyamide,and between 15 and 25% urethane, in a proportion of 55:25:20.